Where The World Comes Together

I have always been a huge Olympics junkie. I froze my butt off working in Salt Lake City in 2002, but it was easily one of the most incredible experiences of my life. As a surprise for employees who worked hard and didn’t miss a shift during the games- we got a surprise free ticket to the closing ceremonies.

Holy moly. Somebody pinch me.

A few of my fellow employees saw $$$ signs and sold their tickets for tons of cash. I think I remember face value of those tickets we were given to be something ridiculous like $800. (I just poked around for prices on tonight’s opening ceremonies and saw a ticket for $1,100. Yikes.) Our gifted tickets were a hot commodity but hell no was I selling mine! I went. It was indescribable. 

Standing in a stadium of thousands with a goody bag of stuff (which I still have) and participating in the show knowing that literally the entire world had eyes on that place was just…gives me shivers. Sounds cheesy but it’s true. Talk about a once in a lifetime. 

We went to medals ceremonies/concerts, short track speed skating, the gold-medal round of men’s figure skating, met celebrities, athletes and people from all around the globe, actually held some of the awarded medals, were on the Today show and worked directly with FBI and Secret Service and other insanely cool things that I couldn’t even keep track of. As I type this now, knowing how thrilled I was then to be a part of it all- 8 years later I’m realizing in a whole different way how lucky I was. What an experience.

I’ll be tuned in tonight like a kid waiting for Santa on Christmas eve. I hope you will too. I’m so excited to drink in the next two weeks watching the best of the best in awe of it all.

Here’s to Vancouver 2010! YIPPEE!